The killing of Bangladeshi teenager Felani Khatun by a BSF man in 2011 in Cooch Behar district cannot be justified, BSF Additional Director General B D Sharma, who has ordered a revision of trial, said today.
"It is a tragic incident and difficult to justify or defend the firing. Amiya Ghosh was declared not guilty. But we ordered a retrial into the incident after the staff of enquiries. Probably it was excessive use of force," Sharma told a media conference here.
"It is not that we had ordered the revision of trial under pressure from Bangladesh, but it is true that Bangladeshi media has been writing a lot about the killing of Felani. Strong reactions are evoked among political parties, press in Bangladesh if a Bangladeshi citizen is killed by BSF," Sharma said.
Fifteen-year-old Felani, was shot dead by BSF man Amiya Ghosh on January 7, 2011, while she along with her father were illegally trying to cross over to Bangladesh at the international border checkpoint at Chaudharihat in Cooch Behar district.
"A jawan has been given a gun. That doesn't mean that he can just shoot without using any sense. The jawan could have arrested her," Sharma said.
He also said that the BSF was planning to install currency note checking machines at all its outposts on the eastern border to check smuggling of fake notes.
"First we will start with sensitive BOPs, then we will extend it to other BOPs," he added.
